The Wall Street Journalis reporting that Google Inc. (GOOG) is holding an emergency summit at the 2013 Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. At the mobile industry's top trade show, Google is reportedly meeting with Android phonemakers like HTC Corp. (TPE:2498) and Hewlett-Packard Comp. (HPQ) about fighting back to prevent Samsung Electronics Comp., Ltd. (KSC:005930) from gaining too strong a dominant position in the Android market.

I. One Company to Rule Them All?

Samsung currently accounts for 40 percent of Android sales -- more than any other company. It's also easily the most profitable of any Android device-maker.

Some analysts think Google is fearful that Samsung will leverage its powerful position to try to get a bigger cut of Google's slowly growing mobile ad revenue stream. Sources claim that Samsung currently gets around 10 percent of the revenue from clicks on its devices. A bump to Samsung's take-home percentage could help offset per-device payments it has to make to Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) for intellectual property licensing.

At a closed-door event, the WSJ reports that their source was in attendance and heard a presentation by Android Chief Andy Rubin. Mr. Rubin allegedly praised Samsung's success, but warned that it could be a "threat" if it furthered its dominant position. Google is reportedly eyeing offerings like HP's $169.99 USD upcoming Android slates.

Samsung in 2012 was the biggest smartphone shipper, shipping 215.8m smartphones, almost all of which ran Android. By contrast, Apple "only" shipped 136.8m iPhones. Samsung hopes to ship 390m smartphones in 2013.

In 2011, Samsung only accounted for 15.6 percent of Android tablets, but in 2012 it advanced to 27.9%, becoming a major player according to Interactive Data Corp. (IDC). Samsung passed Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) in Q4 2012 to become the largest Android tablet seller (Amazon uses a modified Android build in its "Fire" tablets). Samsung just revealed the Galaxy Note 8.0, a hot tablet that is vying with Apple's iPad Mini.

II. Samsung Could Seek Alternatives

If Samsung reacts badly to Google's efforts to keep it in check; it could jump ship to one of a couple rising platforms. It already has made Windows Phone devices and has a good relationship with Microsoft Corp. (MSFT). Alternatively, it could opt to test the waters with a Mozilla OS device (Samsung's South Korean counterpart LG Electronics, Inc. (KSC:066570) is doing precisely that). And then there's Tizen, a mobile Linux kernel that Samsung is co-developing with Intel Corp. (INTC).

For now, Google and Samsung are united by their common enemy: Apple. Samsung will launch its counterstrike against the iPhone 5 on March 14 -- the Galaxy S IV.

In March Google and Samsung will collaborate on the massive Galaxy S IV launch.
[Image Source: AndroidSpin]

Bigger pixels with lower resolution doesn't intrinsically have better image quality under low light than pixel binning, unless sensors lose a lot of photons at the borders (which I don't think is true). Under bright light, resolution wins, especially if you want to crop with these zoomless lenses.

If the OIS works well, the One's camera will be in the running with the Lumia 920, but I don't see how it's "SERIOUSLY good" at this point.

HTC lost me with their idiotic decision on the One to arbitrarily remove Android buttons that I've been accustomed to for years. What's next, one button? Sounds like the Apple philosophy to me, and I do not hold to that. Don't they realize that's one of the best parts of owning an Android phone? The convenience of those keys!

Why? Just why did they do this? It made an otherwise great phone a total deal-breaker!

And to elaborate this happens EVERY time I look at an HTC phone. There is always one thing they completely fuck up for some reason that keeps me going back to Samsung. Just fucking get it right HTC! How hard is it? Was it really more important having a non-functional big fucking ass HTC logo at the bottom where the goddamn search button should be? WAS IT!!!